HONG KONG — Hong Kong will stage Asia’s richest event on the LPGA Tour when the premier women’s golftour tees off in the Chinese territory next year with a $3.4 million purse, organizers said.
The Futu Ladies World Championship will be held at Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club on March 4-7.
It will conclude the tour’s spring Asian swing, which also includes events in Thailand and Singapore.
The US-based LPGA called it a “multi-year deal” that will draw the best women’s golfers on the planet.
“Our fans across Asia have always been some of the most passionate in the world and going to strong markets that match that energy matters to us,” said LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler.
“We couldn’t be more excited to bring the tour to Hong Kong.” The tournament will also boost the development of women’s golf in Hong Kong and southern China, officials said.
Meanwhile, LIVGolfwill lay off the majority of its staff next week under drastic reforms intended to keep the breakaway tour afloat next year, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
T h e l ayo f f s c o m e a f t e r LIV Golf lost the deep-pocketed Saudi investors that had spent a reported $5 billion over several years to lure many top stars from golf’s PGA Tour.
That funding from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) came to an abrupt end following last weekend’s Indianapolis LIV season finale event.
While LIV officials say a “2.0” version of the tour will re-emerge under new investors next season, with a shorter schedule and reduced prize money, that remains deeply uncertain.
